Philippine Travel Advisor

Main Entrance Me at the entrance Situated in the center of the two progressive cities in Negros Occidental, Talisay City in the north and Bacolod City in the south. This haven is now one of the most popular tourist destination in Negros Occidental. It is a 5 hectare property of Mr and Mrs. Ricardo Tan. Campuestohan is 800 meters above sea level that will give you a scenic beauty and majestic panorama of almost half of Negros Occidental, even that of Panay Island fro afar.  What to expect? Well there are a lot to expect!. Get your voice lost shouting in a 340 meter zip line. Be fascinated in their log cabins, igloo inspired cabins, tree trunk structure water facilities and shoe structure shower room and comfort room. Get photos with life size structure carton characters like goku of Dragon Ball , famous personalities like Elvis Presley and Michael Jordan, remembering the days of the Dinosaurs. Wait there's a lot more, if you are an avid fan of super heroes then pay a visit Campuetoh...

La Carlota City is in the southwestern part of central Negros Island nestled in the foot of the sacred Mt. Kanla-on which is the highest peek in Central Visayas .  The rich culture of La Carlota is manifested through the celebration of Pasalamat Festival. A weeklong celebration of thanksgiving to the bountiful harvest which falls every nearest Sunday of May.  It culminates with a Mardi Gras like parade of floats and caricatures. Dancers clad in their colorful indigenous costumes. Sashaying in the tune of samba which drumbeaters created out of carabao leather drums and percussion instruments from indigenous materials.  The original "sambita" or the samba beat was first conceptualized by late Mayor Luis "Nonoy" Jalandoni Jr. In which the original Pasalamat Festival was a simple marry making and street dancing to mark the end of the milling and harvest season to give thank to God Almighty for the bountiful harvest. The first festival took place on May 1, 1980 after sev...

Courtesy: www.lakatan.info Early History The city is already a settlement even before the Spaniards came. Aborigenes of the place were Negritos. When Spaniards came they named it as Malihaw due to vast and abuntantly growing Malihaw trees in the riverbanks. Barrio Malihaw is a fishing village that later became a pueblo or town, it was ruled by Capitan Gregorio Conlu. He was married to Faustina Gosiaco ( Capitana Tutang).  One day, the household of Capitan Conlu was robbed by the Moros and Tulisanes. He and his secretary, Alfonso Pachera were able to escape and his beloved wife together with their servant Micay were left and brought aboard the sailboat by Moros. The boat immediately sailed across the sea. Capitana Tutang was asked by the Moro if they could swim, they answered they could not. They thrown overboard Capitana tutang and Mikay to the sea without knowing they are good swimmers. Moros expected they will be drowned and departed. Both of them were strugling in the water and...

Clad in a colorful costume which represent Princess Nabingka San Carlos City, located along the coast of Tanon Strait.  It is a 2 1/2 hours travel via Don Salvador Benedicto or 4 hours travel if via coastal. San Carlos City is known because of their Pintaflores Festival. I really wanna witness the said event so i really push myself to go there even i'm alone. Nov. 5 2013, the day i am waiting. San Carlos City is celebrating their 21st Pintaflores Festival. I woke up so early to fix my things and also i want to be early and can find a nice spot for later ritual dance. At exactly 7 A.M. i was already at Bacolod City South Terminal and departed immediately. 9:30 A.M when the bus arrived at San Carlos City. After leaving the bus i find a local transportation i choose a pedicab and ask the driver to bring me to the City Auditorium. Note: if you are traveling alone don't worry the locals are very approachable. The dialect there are Hiligaynon and Cebuano. The program will start at 1:...

The 14th ATOP-DOT Pearl Award, the highest award giving body in the field of tourism in the Philippines awarded Silay City as Best in Tourism Oriented LGU in the Philippines. The Pearl Award Ceremonies were held at the Ball Room of the Oriental Hotel in Legazpi City Province of Albay last October 3, 2013.                           Silay official representatives are Councilor Neil Solomon Locsin and Tourism Officer Severino F. Pacete. Mr. Severino also awarded as Most Outstanding Tourism Officer of the Philippines. Other city level awards won by Silay are: Best Tourism Month Celebration, First Runner-up; Best Tourism Event- Festival, Hugyaw Kansilay Festival (Silay Charter Anniversary); and Best Tourism Event- Art and Culture Silay Christmas Village, second runner-up. The National Awards are given by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) in recognition of exception...

                                                      Photo by: Arnel Dats of Dats Snapshot It is my second time watching minulu-an festival. Last year it was raining before the competition start. This year it was a sunny afternoon and a good weather greeted every contestants. Though i was late and haven't seen the first performer. I focus on the next until the last. But unlucky i was unable to witness the announcement of winners, it happened that my sister is tired and want to refresh. So we gone home. Out of 27 Barangays only 8 tribes participate in this year competition. Every contestant give their best to empress the board of judges.The term Minulu-an was the old name of the city. The story evolve in a very brave man who was Kapitan Sabi. He was so brave that he drove away the moro bandits to keep the city safe. The festival was celebrated every 10th...

 Enjoy the ride  As a local here in Silay i always visit Brgy. Patag. A small village  nestled in the foothills of Mt. Mandalagan and Mt. Marapara. Approximately 490 above sea level. It is called "Patag" because the area is flat. The place is perfect  for nature enthusiast and outdoor buffs. Its fresh and cold temperature will entice you to keep coming back. Flora and fauna is abundant in the whole area. If you are traveling from the city proper it may takes 2 to 3hrs. The long and winding road makes you catch your breath as if you were riding a roller coaster when you go up to the mountain. Patag is the last frontier of the Japanese soldiers during World War II. Almost 6,000 Japanese soldiers died in its wilderness and serve as war memorial. Where to stay: *Silay Outdoor and Recreation Area: Its always the choice of the most because it is the nearest and the safest area. The area is guarded by Brgy. Police the whole day. In night time they are no...

The San Diego Pro-cathedral ( St. Didacus Parish Church) formerly known as San Diego Parish Church is an early 20th century church. It was completed in 1927. In that year the church was also inaugurated . Located at the very heart of the city of Silay just beside the Silay City Hall and fronting Silay City public Plaza.                                                                 The ruins of old church The parish of Silay was established in 1776 it is built from light materials such as bamboo, nipa palm (a local palm) and cogon grass. But unluckily it fell into ruin by fire. Fr. Eusebio Locsin initiated the construction of a permanent church made of stone and wood in 1841. In 1925 a more grander structure is meant to replace the old church. The ruins of the oldc hurch today is just at the back of the Pro-c...

When i was a child i always seen the old wharf every time we gone boating and when we visit the coastal area if we want to get sea shells. My first impression was it was supposed to be a bridge connecting Negros island to Panay island. It is located at Brgy. Mambulak. According to elders it was a project of Pres. Marcos as i always encounter stories like that. But as i read articles and blogs this months it fascinates me to search the true story behind that ruins. Maybe i grew up in Silay City but no knowledge about this landmark. But today i know what exactly it is and what was it before.                                                             Photo by: MelGallegos It was built and completed in 1933. Designed by Lucio Bernasconi an Italian architect who is also responsible of tha San Diego Pro-Cathedral of Silay City. Consi...

Photo By: Dats Snapshot Long before the coming of the Spaniards in Buglas (Negros Island), there lived a beautiful “Lin-ay” (Maiden) in a shoreline village of Karobkob. She is called Kansilay.  She’s so sweet and beautiful that the people of the village liked her. She is the only daughter of Pinunong Bubog, the village chief. Her fiancé is Lawa-an, a handsome and hard working “ulitao” (gentlemen). Kansilay and Lawa-an are so in love with each other and their parents have agreed for their “tambe-palad” (marriage) when the right time comes. One day, Lawa-an joined the young men of the village in the annual “ pangayam” (hunting for wildlife) which would last for one full moon. Lawa-an bid Kansilay goodbye. While the young men of the village were away, there came a group of “ tulisan” (bandits) headed by Lunok. They burned the houses, looted the property, and even raped some women. Old Bubog gathered the elders of the village and fought Lunok. The villain treacherously killed the chie...